Islamic Liberation Theology, British Bangladeshis and the class struggle: the case of Nijjor Manush

British Bangladeshis are the most economically deprived ethnic group in the UK, with the latest statistics suggesting that over 50% live in poverty. They have overwhelmingly been victims of the capitalist relations of production and imbalances in class power. Tower Hamlets, where one-sixth of Britain’s Bengalis live, has become a key battleground as local activists and residents resist attempts to gentrify the historical Brick Lane area of the East End. This paper highlights the centrality of Islam in the activism of Nijjor Manush, a grassroots group of Bangladeshi activists, that has led the Save Brick Lane campaign. Using interviews and focus groups, it outlines the foundations of a theology of class struggle that has been developed through their resistance to the gentrification policies of landowners, real estate developers and local government.